Ornamental protective covering for removable fasteners



Feb. 25, 1964 s. GREENE 3 2,0

ORNAMENTAL PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR REMOVABLE FASTENERS Filed Jan. 24,1961 Ti 5 w 3 E\ I6 12 19 I 76 m 15 h its) 75a I I M i "Z I 17% 75 72a75 2 f9; 4 I6? W 25b INVENTOR. T a- I 75 SAMUEL GREENE /4- BY 25& 7/5AmW/VEY United States Patent 3,122,651 GPJ*-.AMENTAL ERGTE TTEVECGVERHJG REMGVABLE FASTENERS Samuel Greene, 212 Weequahic Ave, Newark 8,NJ. Filed Jan. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 84,549 2 Claims. (Cl. 85-53) Thisinvention relates to protective covering members or caps for the outerends or heads of removable fasteners, such as screws, bolts, nails andthe like, after said fasteners have been finally secured in place.

An object of my invention is to provide a protective covering member,which would preferably also be ornamental, comprising an outer portionterminating in an inturned flange and applicable to the exposed endportion of a removable fastener, with its flange portion stretchablethereover and snapable into securing relationship thereon, incombination with a washer with which the fian e portion of a covercontacts with a Weathersealing joint.

A still further object of my invention is to provide, in combinationwith a removable fastener having a head projecting beyond a securedmember and a washer between the peripheral portion of said head and saidmember, a cover for said head provided with a peripheral inturned flangesnapped there-over into weather-sealing engagement with the outer edgeportion of said washer.

Another object of my invention is to provide an ornamental covering forthe exposed end portions or heads of screws, bolts, nuts, or similarfasteners, whereby ordinary low-cost fasteners may be employed at allpoints, with coverings selected as to finish and particular hardware orarticle to be secured by said fasteners.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description when taken with the accompanyingdrawings. It will be understood that the drawings are for purposes ofillustration and do not define the scope or limits of the invention,reference being had for the latter purpose to the appended claims.

in the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like parts inthe several views:

FlGURE l is a fragmentary sectional view of a secured mber and a base orobject to which it is secured and into which is set a removablefastener, the particular type of fastener illustrated being a screw witha generally semispherical head or outer end, and an ornamental and/ orprotective cover on said head with a washer between the eripheralportion of said head and said secured member.

FIGURE 2. is a plan of the cover, on the head of the fastener of FlGURE1, to larger scale.

FZGURE 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fl URE 1, in thedirection of the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, corresponding toFIGURE 1 but in which the protective covering member and washer are alsoshown in section.

FIGURE 4A is a fragmentary sectional View of a righthand portion ofFlGURE 4 to a still larger scale, in order to more fully show thedetails thereof.

FiGURE 5 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 4, but showing amodification.

FIGURE 6 is a view corresponding to FlGURE 4, but showing anothermodification.

FIGURE 7 is an exploded view of the cover and frusto-conical washer ofFIGURE 6, to a smaller scale.

deferring to the drawings in detail, and first considering theembodiment of my invention illustrated in FIG- URES 1 to 4A, there isshown a removable fastener 11 which, in this case, is a screw having anexposed end portion or head 12 at one end of a shank 23. Said head ishere generally semi-spherical and provided with a notch 13 for thereception of a screw-driver or other tool for turning it into place. Inthis case the fastener 11 is received in a wood or other base portion14, has an annular peripheral shoulder formed at the juncture of thehead and shank and holes in place thereagainst a secured member or plate15. A washer 16 encircles the shank 23 portion of the fastener "all andis disposed under the peripheral portion or shoulder of the head 12between it and the base portion 14'.

Covering the convex or generally semi-spherical portion of the head 12is a protective covering member or cover 17. The cover I] has an innerrim portion 18 from which extends an inturned flange 19 which issnapable over the inner edge of the head portion 12 into sealingengagement with the outer edge or periphery of the washer 16. The outeredge or peripheral surface of the washer 16 and the engaged innerperipheral surface of the flange 19 are desirably formed withcorresponding or complementary shapes, such as the mating concavo-convexsurfaces indicated at 2-1 the minimum internal diameter of said flangesurface being ess than the external diameter of said washer surface sothat, upon fitting the parts together, as viewed particularly in FIGURES4 and 4A, there is a weather-sealing engagement therebetween. Suchengagement effectively protects the head 12 of the usually metal memberill from the effects of the weather and thereby avoids rusting or otherdeterioration, with the consequent staining or other unsightlycontamination of the parts secured thereby.

As an example of one of the possible uses for devices embodying myinvention, it is pointed out that in the construction of modern dwellinghouses, false metal blinds or shutters are frequently used forornamental purposes, such shutters being secured by screws or the liketo a side of the house adjacent the window openings. Thus the part i=4may represent a portion of the house and the part 15 a portion of ametal blind or shutter. The shutter may include a frame of pressedaluminum and a diepressed panel. The frame may have an opening in whichis a brass eyelet or the like, to hold the frame parts together, and asa screw hole for a wood screw which has at one end a head and its otherend threaded as at 29 for securing the frame to a wall of a buildin Suchshutters are of a selected color and it has been di ficult, if notimpossible, to get screws or other fasteners having heads of the samecolor as the shutters. It is obviously aestheticall objectionable tohave a fastener of one color used with a shutter of another color. Inaccordance with my invention, I may use screws or other fasteners of anyselected color, as of that of a metal such as steel, brass or aluminum,and cover the heads of such fasteners with caps 17, desirably formed ofa vinyl resin or other plastic material, and of a color matching that ofthe shutter or other member 15 secured thereby. Thus the cover member 17not only performs an ornamental function but, especially when associatedwith a washer to the outer edge to which it is sealed, a protectivefunction, preventing weathering of the screw or other fastener, with theconsequent possible discoloration of the part connected to the buildingby the use of said fastener.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIGURE 5,there is shown a removable fastener l-la which may be a screw hav ng anexposed end portion or head 12a. Said head is here generallysemispherical and provided with a notch 13a for the reception of a screwdriver or other tool. In this case the fastener lia is also shown asreceived in a wood or other base portion 14a and holds in placethereagainst a plate or other secured member 15a. A washer 16a encirclesthe shank portion 23:: of the fastener 11a and is disposed asillustrated in FIGURE 7.

under the peripheral portion of the head 12a between it and the baseportion 14a.

Covering the convex or generally semi-spherical portion of the head 12ais a protective covering member or cover 17a. The cover 17a has an innerrim portion 18:; from which extends an inturned flange 1% which issnapable over the inner edge of the head portion 12a. In this instancethe exterior diameter of the washer 16a is smaller than the interiordiameter of the flange 19a, so that it is not engaged by said flangeportion and there is a space left around said washer. Because of thisspace there is no necessity for having the adjacent surfaces of theflange 19:: and the washer 16a of corresponding contour. Although theflange 1% is illustrated with a concavo-convex surface, this is not herenecessary as it may be plain cylindrical or even toroidal.

It will therefore be seen that the embodiment of FIG- URE does not givea strictly waterproof seal over the entire outer end portion of thefastener 11a as in the case of the first embodiment. However, withexception of the annular space between the washer 16a and the flange 1%there is protection against the weather, and the ornamental appearanceis or may be identical with that of the first embodiment.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIGURES 6and 7, there is shown a removable fastener Zlib which in this case maybe a screw as in the preceding embodiment, altli ugh I do not Wish to belimited to such in any embodiment. The exposed head portion 12b of thefastener 11b is in this instance frusto-conical with its small end whereit joins the shank 23b of the fastener 11:). 12b is provided with anotch 13b for the reception of a screw driver or other tool for turningit into place. In this case the outer surface of the head 12b alon whichthe The outer portion of the head I notch passes may be nearly flat orgenerally spherical about a large radius as illustrated.

The fastener 11b is shown received in a wood or other base portion 14band holds in place thereagainst a secured member or plate 1512 which iscorrespondingly countersunk or provided with a frusto-conical or beveledaperture 24 to receive the frusto-conical or beveled head portion 12b.The head portion 12b is desirably encircled by or sheathed in a hollowfrusto-conical or beveled washer 16b having an exterior shoulder rec atits larger end, shown in FIGURE 7 as separated from the associatedparts. The Washer, if used, thus lies under the frustoconical portion ofthe head 12b and between it and the secured member 151; in which it isembedded.

Covering the nearly fiat outer surface of the head 12. is a protectivecovering member or cover 175 desirably initially flat as shown in FIGURE7 and applied to the head by bending to the shape illustrated in FIGURE6 to cause it to snap into sealing position over the outer edge of saidhead or the sheathing washer 16b, if used. The cover 1712 desirably hasa flange 19b projecting down Wardly from its periphery 13b and normallyfrusto-conical, Its inner surface is desirably curved, as indicated at2112, to mate with the correspondingly curved outer or upper edgesurface desirably formed on the washer 1612.

Thus the sealing between the cover 17b and the washer 16b, when thecover is snapped into place over the outer edge of the head, and itscircumscribed washer, if a Washer is used, is similar to that betweenthe cover 1'7 and the washer 16 of the first embodiment. However, herethe beaded or toroidal edge portion 25 of the cover 17b snaps into acorresponding groove near but below the top edge of the washer 16b tohold it in place, rather than over the outer peripheral edge of the barehead 12 as in the first embodiment.

Like the first embodiment, the second and third embodiments may be usedfor a similar purpose, or similar purposes, and the covers and washersmay be of a similar material, that is, a synthetic resin or otherelastic material of a desired color. It will be understood that in allembodiments the material from which the parts are made may be selectedin accordance with the particular use for which intended.

I claim:

1. A protective cover member for a part having a shank and a head at oneend thereof with a peripheral shoulder at the juncture of said head andshank, said cover member comprising an elastic body portionapproximately conforming in shape to the shape of said head and formedwith an inner rim terminating in an integral continuous annular inturnedflange stretchable over said shoulder and snapable therebeneath tosecure the cover member on said part, and an annular washer disposableon said fastener adjacent said head the outer peripheral surface of saidWasher and the inner peripheral surface of said annular inturned flangehaving corresponding and complementary surfaces, the minimum internaldiameter of said flange surface being less than the maidmum externaldiameter of said washer surface whereby when the flange is stretchedover said head and snapped into place, the flange elastically engagesthe peripheral surface of said washer and effects a seal with respectthereto.

2. In combination with a removable fastener having a head projectingbeyond a member secured thereby, a washer between the peripheral portionof said head and said secured member, said washer encircling saidfastener inwardly or" said head, and an elastic cover member for saidhead fitting over the head and provided with an inturned perimetralflange portion stretched and snapped over the peripheral portion of saidhead into weather-sealin engagement with said Washer the outerperipheral surface of said washer and the inner peripheral surface or"said annular inturned flange having corresponding and complementarysurfaces, the minimum internal diameter of said flange surface beingless than the maximum external diameter of said washer surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS

1. A PROTECTIVE COVER MEMBER FOR A PART HAVING A SHANK AND A HEAD AT ONEEND THEREOF WITH A PERIPHERAL SHOULDER AT THE JUNCTURE OF SAID HEAD ANDSHANK, SAID COVER MEMBER COMPRISING AN ELASTIC BODY PORTIONAPPROXIMATELY CONFORMING IN SHAPE TO THE SHAPE OF SAID HEAD AND FORMEDWITH AN INNER RIM TERMINATING IN AN INTEGRAL CONTINUOUS ANNULAR INTURNEDFLANGE STRETCHABLE OVER SAID SHOULDER AND SNAPABLE THEREBENEATH TOSECURE THE COVER MEMBER ON SAID PART, AND AN ANNULAR WASHER DISPOSABLEON SAID FASTENER ADJACENT SAID HEAD THE OUTER PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAIDWASHER AND THE INNER PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID ANNULAR INTURNED FLANGEHAVING CORRESPONDING AND COMPLEMENTARY SURFACES, THE MINIMUM INTERNALDIAMETER OF SAID FLANGE SURFACE BEING LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM EXTERNALDIAMETER OF SAID WASHER SURFACE WHEREBY WHEN THE FLANGE IS STRETCHEDOVER SAID HEAD AND SNAPPED INTO PLACE, THE FLANGE ELASTICALLY ENGAGESTHE PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID WASHER AND EFFECTS A SEAL WITH RESPECTTHERETO.